Mr. H noticed the peach-colored pointe shoes on the porch when he came out. Mrs. H, in a black dress and shawl, picked them up for him. He held them closely as they got into the waiting car.
At the cemetery, they sat in the front row listening to the eulogies, under a majestic oak covered with autumn leaves. They didn’t hear the group of young girls at the back who were giggling and chatting amongst themselves. The girls seemed oblivious to their surroundings. Standing between the open coffin and framed photograph of the deceased, the bearded priest spoke of how God’s will can sometimes be unfathomable and that in times of tragedy, extraordinary faith is demanded, particularly when young lives are involved. He read a couple of pertinent verses from the Bible and mentioned very briefly the road accident that had killed Mr. and Mrs. H’s granddaughter and her classmates. They were returning from their annual grading examination when their van avoided an oncoming truck only to plunge into a ravine. Mrs. H took the shoes from her husband and laid them gently inside the coffin, which was lowered into the earth moments later. The girls in the shade whispered and teased one another, while the mourners around them appeared to steadfastly ignore them.
When the ceremony ended and the mourners had dispersed, the girls began walking at leisure through the tree-lined cemetery, gossiping and peering at tombstones while challenging one another at arabesque. One of the girls turned to look again at Mr. and Mrs. H, who remained solemnly by the photo and freshly covered grave, holding one another. She will miss them.
Photo from unsplash.com by Gaelle Marcel
